The theme of NAECED overall goal is the same...to bring Christian Educators together for exceptional workshops, spirit-strengthening worships, opportunties for networking and building relationships with colleagues from all over the country.
In full disclosure...this is also a time to renew spiritual reserves, and to reboot our ideas and thoughts and bring new ones back with us. That means something different for everyone. Outside of the workshops and speakers and resource vendors, there are other things offered here throughout the weekend like, small group meals, morning prayer, silent meditation areas, walking tours of the city, 10 minute chair massages...and yes--cookies. Chocolate chips ones. Right out of the oven.
In the elevator up to my room I ran into Linda Snyder from Connecticut whose title changed a few times at the Diocese of CT after she took over for Sharon Pearson, but Linda was in charge of Youth Formation for the Diocese. She came to Grace a few years ago when I talked to her about feeling burned out and out of fresh ideas. She was encouraging and compassionate and gave me some wonderful ideas to try at Grace. Recently her position was eliminated and for the moment there is no one filling that specific Youth Formation due to budget cuts. She is here as a speaker representing her church, St. John's in Barkhamsted. It was so good to see her again, and we plan to talk more tomorrow. She is anxious to hear about all the wonderful things going on at Grace. Things were pretty grim the last time she and I spoke.
The Rev. Lisa Flores, NAECED President, dropped a bombshell during her opening remarks. After 15 years of struggle to and reorganizations, The Board of Directors of NAECED has voted to change NAECED's name. No longer is this organization just about Christian Education Directors. Represented here are indeed Christian Education Directors, Youth Minsters, Diocean Formation Directors, Resource Formaton Leaders, Youth Group Directors, and more ministries involved with both adult and youth Christian Education.
There was an audible gasp in the room when she announced it. I think it took people by surprise because NAECED has had to fight some uphill battles to be recognized at the General Convention many years ago and had finally, and firmly, become known and respected.
So the NAECED Board has voted to change NAECED to FORMA. They prayed long, discussed much and decided it was time to move ahead and expand on the foundation NAECED had worked so hard to build. I will get you the particulars of the new tag line when they give us the particulars, but it really made sense to me as they starting talking about it. More and more churches are getting away from the term Christian Education and more are using Christian Formation. Formation--thus the name FORMA. What's the difference between Education and Formation? I like to think that education is more about knowledge. Formation is more about an overall development of knowledge and faith and going out and living those things in God's name. I remember a similar shift when the term Sunday School gave way to the term. Church School.
Tomorrow is a full day of workshops and I crashed and burned somewhere around dessert tonight. I stayed for worship and now I'm getting some rest for the busy day tomorrow. I'll tell you more about my workshops then.
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